93: Chapter 93 It's so good to be alive

The gates of the Central District appeared before them. At this moment, many people stood on the walls, and there were also many people at the main entrance.

Faint cheers and music could be heard.

Bonfires had been lit on the walls, their orange-red flames dancing in the twilight.

The group got out of the car and walked inside amidst the applause of the crowd.

Xu Wanning looked back.

Lu Chengyue asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"

Xu Wanning pressed a hand to her heart, "Do you think it's really over? I don't know why, but I keep feeling a bit uneasy."

Lu Chengyue hugged her, "Ningning, it's over. We've won."

Xu Wanning smiled, "Maybe I'm just being too sensitive."

The two continued walking toward the base gate at a slow pace, the setting sun sinking inch by inch behind them.

Far behind them, deep within the ruins, a fissure slightly bulged from the ground.

The crack was small, only a palm's width, with no sound and nothing emerging from it.

The gates of the Central District closed. A massive bonfire burned in The Square, its flames leaping as high as a two-story building. Sparks crackled and drifted, the orange-red glow reflecting on the faces of the survivors gathered around the fire.

Seeing them enter, the crowd automatically parted to both sides, their applause rhythmic and unified.

"Heroes!" "Xu Wanning!" "Lu Chengyue!" "Dawn Squad!"

People were shouting all sorts of things; everyone was expressing their gratitude in their own way.

Some people didn't know what to shout, so they just clapped vigorously until their palms were bright red.

Xu Wanning shifted the bow and arrows on her back to ensure they wouldn't hit the surrounding survivors, nodding as she walked to acknowledge them.

A little girl ran out from the crowd, about seven or eight years old, wearing clothes that were clearly two sizes too big, but they were clean, and her cheeks were rosy.

She ran up to Xu Wanning and stopped, standing on her tiptoes to press something she had been clenching in her palm into Xu Wanning's hand.

It was a fruit candy, its wrapper a bit wrinkled—who knew how long she had been hiding it.

"Big sister, have some candy." After saying this, the little girl ran back into the crowd, hiding behind a woman, revealing only half of her face.

Xu Wanning looked down at the candy in her hand; the pink wrapper was printed with a strawberry.

Xu Wanning pocketed the candy and continued walking forward, Lu Chengyue following by her side, helping her handle everyone's enthusiasm.

"Thank you for your hard work!" "You're amazing!" "We won!"

He nodded and said thank you all the way, guiding Xu Wanning forward.

The Safe Zone broadcast began to play.

The loudspeaker hung on the tallest building, static crackling loudly. The broadcaster's voice cut through the noise, "After nearly a year, zombies nationwide have been completely cleared. The number of zombies is confirmed to be zero. We..."

The broadcaster paused for a moment, the sound of electrical static buzzing for two seconds, "We have won!"

Cheers erupted in The Square. Some people threw their hats into the air, others hugged each other, and some wept loudly.

The broadcaster's voice sounded again; this time, she was reading the list of those who had fallen among the survivor squads.

Everyone quieted down, took off their hats, lowered their heads, and observed a moment of silence.

The list was long, and the broadcaster read it slowly, pronouncing every name clearly, afraid of mispronouncing the name of any hero.

After the silence ended, Xu Wanning took Lu Chengyue home to find Song Yunqing for treatment, while the other teammates wanted to stay out and celebrate a little longer.

The two walked home. There was no one in the house; Steward Zhang Song was in the annex, and there was no one in the main building.

"They must have gone out to celebrate too. Let's go to the medical clinic." Xu Wanning pulled Lu Chengyue, intending to leave.

Lu Chengyue tugged her back, "Let's change clothes first. You can treat it for me now, and we can get proper treatment when she gets back. I don't want to move anymore."

"Let's go."

Arriving at the third floor, they entered the room, and Lu Chengyue closed the door.

Xu Wanning turned around, "Let me see."

Lu Chengyue extended his arm.

Xu Wanning unwrapped the bandage, checked the wound, cleaned it again, applied medicine, and wrapped it back up. "Does it hurt?"

Lu Chengyue shook his head, "It doesn't hurt."

"Liar." Xu Wanning bandaged it carefully. She had learned this bandaging technique in her previous life, primarily to bandage Lu Chengyue, as he always stood in front of her and was injured more often than anyone else.

Ding-dong. Her phone rang.

A voice message from The Great Leader, "Supplies are being distributed! Eat your fill tonight! A grand banquet!"

How could they miss a banquet organized by The Great Leader? The two changed their clothes and returned to The Square.

There were countless tables and chairs set up in The Square. People, whether they knew each other or not, sat down wherever they could find a spot.

Beer, meat, eggs, vegetables, and drinks were set out on every table in abundance.

Grandpa Zhou sat in his seat, opened a can of beer, tipped his head back, and took a big gulp. "It's good to be alive."

The apprentices sitting around him raised their glasses together.

Jiang Yishen sat at the very edge, his back against the wall, a beer can resting on his knees. He was silent, lost in thought.

When Grandpa Zhou raised his glass, he also picked up his can, took only a small sip, and then placed the can back on his knees.

Ye Yuhe sat next to Xia Xingxi, holding the beer can with both hands, and spoke softly, "If only they could have lived to see this day."

Xia Xingxi held her hand, "They are watching from heaven, and they must be happy for us."

As the eldest sister in her family, Xia Xingxi had been afraid of running out of food, so she gave all her rations to her younger siblings, eating only enough to survive herself. She had become skeletal, only to be found and brought back by Xu Wanning and the others.

She could understand Ye Yuhe's longing for her family at this moment.

Jiang Yishen stood up and walked to the nearby wall, turning his back to the bonfire and looking out beyond the base.

"What's he suddenly getting emo for?" Xu Wanning tapped Lu Chengyue.

Lu Chengyue shook his head, "I don't know." Nothing had happened in the last few days, so why was he so down?

"Did he have a fight with Ye Yuhe?"

This was all Xu Wanning could think of. In her previous life, the two of them had gotten together not long after meeting, but in this life, they hadn't made any progress even now. Her rebirth had truly changed the trajectory of many people's lives.

Lu Chengyue shook his head, "He can handle his own affairs. Let's just wait and see."

Xu Wanning and Lu Chengyue sat down.

Xu Yu waved at them, "Big sister, brother-in-law, we've been waiting for you."

Once the two sat down, he pushed a plate of shrimp in front of them, "Sister, eat more. Look at you, you're as thin as a stick."

Xu Wanning looked down at herself. How was she thin as a stick? "You eat it yourself."

Xu Yu patted his stomach, which had only one ab, "I have plenty of meat. Can't you tell?"

Everyone couldn't help but laugh, and even Jiang Yishen, who was standing by the wall, couldn't help but look back.

The broadcast was still playing; it was playing an old song with a very familiar melody. Some people started humming along, and gradually more and more people joined in. By the end, almost everyone in the Safe Zone was singing, and those who didn't know the lyrics just hummed along.

Lu Zhiyu, sitting opposite them, noticed Lu Chengyue's arm and tapped Song Yunqing, who was sitting with her medical clinic colleagues behind her, "Qingqing, help my brother with his treatment."